Coppertail Brewing Co. creates the perfect marriage of Stout and Sea in a single beverage

January 13, 2017, Tampa, FL - Coppertail Brewing Co., one of Florida’s premier craft breweries, has released an unconventionally flavored beer today, coinciding with the 2016-2017 stone crab season. The 2017 Captain Jack’s Stone Crab Stout is the third iteration of an American stout Coppertail first produced in 2015. It proved to be so popular they decided to bring it back as a seasonal offering in 2017.

Stone Crab season opens in Florida every year on October 15 and runs through May 15. This gave the team the time on their busy production schedule to brew the beer half-way through the season. The beer’s flavor is redolent of the ocean, with a slightly briny taste. Notes from the label say:“Yes, this beer is boiled with actual fresh, Key West stone crab claws as an ingredient. Why would we do that? Because we like the way it tastes. The claws in the boil add a savory salinity to this rich and roasty stout, kind of like adding salt to chocolate. We dedicate this beer to Captain Jack, the fearless Key West fisherman who makes this brew possible.”

For the past two years in the month of December, Coppertail has hosted a Stone Crab dinner in the loft & event space in their tasting room in Tampa, and every year it sells out. The feast is catered by Loko Cuisine who creates a delicious menu to compliment the stone crab harvested in the morning in Key West and delivered to the brewery in Tampa in the afternoon. A portion of the crab is for the dinner, a large portion is for staff and local friends in the industry and a huge portion of it, 300 pounds, is added to the beer during the boil to give it its subtle flavor.

Coppertail is not the first brewing company to brew beer with shellfish. Since the 1920’s beer has been brewed with oysters, clams or lobster in several coastal breweries in the United States and Europe. Brew master Casey Hughes said, “I was ridiculously fortunate to get my start in this industry at age 17 in Key West. I wanted to create a beer to honor the time I spent there. The company we first brewed this beer with, Tequesta Brewing, has our appreciation, too.”

A portion of the proceeds from Captain Jack’s Stone Crab stout will be donated to the Florida Keys Commercial Fisherman’s Association to promote sustainable fishing, and to help preserve the way of life of Florida fishermen. Captain Jack’s Stone Crab Stout will be released in mid-January. It will be available through limited distribution and at the brewery, while it lasts. (Check the Coppertail Facebook page for availability updates.) It has an alcohol content of 8.3% and it is excellent paired with seafood, salads, pasta dishes, and, of course, stone crab.

About Coppertail Brewing Co.Coppertail Brewing Co. is a production brewery in Tampa, FL, founded in 2014 by home brewer and reformed attorney, Kent Bailey and professional brewer, Casey Hughes. The two wanted to bring more hop-forward and Belgian influenced beer to the thirsty masses. Coppertail brews and bottles all their beer in Tampa for distribution throughout Florida. Four core beers are available year-round, with seasonal releases and special treatments offered throughout the year. Coppertail beer is available at Total Wine, Target, Whole Foods, Publix, and at the brewery seven days a week.

Coppertail recently won a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Co., one of the industry’s most prestigious events. For more information, visit CoppertailBrewing.com.